COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. -- The 15th-ranked Christopher Newport University field hockey team (12-5) will open NCAA play on Wednesday at Ursinus College (16-3) at 2:00 pm. It is the sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance for head coach Carrie Moura and her squad, reaching the postseason event with a Pool B at-large bid as an Independent.

Ursinus checked into the final coaches poll of the season at No. 11, setting up a battle between the #11 and #15 teams in the nation on Tuesday. The contest will be held at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field, with the winner advancing to face Messiah in the second round Saturday morning at Salisbury University.

The Captains finished the regular season with a 12-5 mark, led by junior Caitlin Cahill with 35 points and defensively by senior Brianna Milne, with three defensive saves and 16 starts this season. The CNU defense has posted six shutouts on the season with junior Jamie Dowling doing most of the work in the cage, allowing just 0.91 goals against on average this season.

The Bears feature a potent offensive attack, with a pair of players over 40 points for the year. Alyssa Thren leads the way on attack, a three-time First Team All-Conference selection with 46 total points. Corinne Freeman is right behind her with 44 total points on 19 goals and six assists.

The two teams have met just twice in history, a home-at-home series taking place in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, Ursinus defeated CNU 1-0 in Collegeville, and the Bears defeated the Captains 4-3 in overtime in 2008.

There will be a live video webcast of the match as well as live statistics available. Tickets for the game are $5 for adults and $3 for students, senior citizens and children under 12.